Manuscript types

The following types of manuscripts can be considered for peer-reviewed publication in The Cryosphere (TC):

Research articles report substantial and original scientific results within the journal's scope. Generally, these are expected to be within 12 journal pages, have appropriate figures and/or tables, a maximum of 80 references, and an abstract of 150–250 words.

Review articles summarize the status of knowledge and outline future directions of research within the journal scope. These articles do not have a required page limit or maximum number of references, should include appropriate figures and/or tables as well as a concise abstract. Before preparing and submitting a review article, please contact an editor covering the relevant subject area and the chief or managing executive editor. The manuscript title must start with "Review article:".

Brief communications are timely, peer-reviewed, and short (2–4 journal pages). These may be used to (a) report new developments, significant advances, and novel aspects of experimental and theoretical methods and techniques which are relevant for scientific investigations within the journal scope; (b) report/discuss on significant matters of policy and perspective related to the science of the journal, including "personal" commentary; and (c) disseminate information and data on topical events of significant scientific and/or social interest within the scope of the journal. Brief communications have a maximum of 3 figures and/or tables, a maximum of 20 references, and an abstract length not exceeding 100 words. The manuscript title must start with "Brief communication:". To encourage these timely, short, and focused papers, their layout is different from other types of manuscripts and they therefore cost less per page than research articles.

Invited perspective articles form an occasional series of solicited reports on topical and/or emerging fields of research of particular interest, authored by leading experts in the discipline. They may include a commentary element.

Special issue editorial:special issues may include an introductory article or an overview article (or both). Introductory articles outline the motivation and background, and overview articles synthesize and summarize the findings of the special issue papers. The manuscript title must clearly reflect the relation to the special issue and should normally start with "Introduction:" or "Overview:"

Comments & replies are peer-reviewed, one page each (for a total of two pages), and include discussion and commentary that address significant aspects of a paper already published in the journal within the last year, without (a) becoming essentially new papers, (b) delving into too much detail, or (c) becoming personal. A comment & reply should address non-trivial points of interest to readers other than the authors of the comment and the paper being commented on. The manuscript title should start with "Comment on" or "Reply to". Please see the further guidelines on comments & replies.

Book reviews provide a "critique" of a book and are not primarily a summary. They contain fewer than 1000 words and start with "Book review on:". Please see the further guidelines on book reviews.

Corrigenda correct errors in preceding papers. The manuscript title reads as follows: Corrigendum to "TITLE" published in JOURNAL, VOLUME, PAGES, YEAR. Please note that corrigenda are only possible for final revised journal papers and not for the corresponding discussion paper.